Continued from 5:30 - 7pm.
Reico (F1 Pit backstage, 7pm): Some of the guard contingent stand in the wings backstage, smiling and chit-chatting quietly as they give their uniforms one last check before they are due to march in. Looking smart is definitely the key for their next few moments.
ST PHOTO: Bryan Huang
Joanne (ST.com HQ, 7:11pm): President S R Nathan has just pulled up in what is his 10th year overseeing Singapore's National Day Parade. As the familiar strains of our National Anthem is struck up by the band, everyone rises to their feet with proud faces and looking at the giant national flag fly-by hoisted up by helicopters.
Reico (Marina Bay backstage, 7:13pm): As the National Anthem is played, eveyone drops what they are doing and stands up straight at attention. It is indeed a solemn moment, especially at the parade grounds, where the level of respect for the country is at a high.
ST PHOTO: Reico Wong
Joanne (ST.com HQ, 7:14pm): The sun is fast setting, making the 21-gun presidential salute all the more spectacular.
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 7:18pm): A quick weather update: Thankfully the humidity of this afternoon is gone. It's a really, really lovely evening to be out, a gentle breeze passes ever so often. Pity about the haze or we could've enjoyed the parade against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset.
Reico (Marina Bay Grandstand backstage, 7:21pm): As the first few rounds of the 21-gun salute fill the air, I see the young performers jumping in shock at the loud shots. But they immediately smile and laugh at their own startled reaction, and put it down to part of the excitment of participating in the parade.
ST PHOTO: Reico Wong
All the events on stage seem to simply heighten their excitement, and they burst into cheers once again as they spot the grand contingent marching in front of them.
ST Photo: Reico Wong
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 7:29pm): It's the United Nations at Marina Bay! 26 members of the Young Reporters Training Camp from all around the world were given passes by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) and to watch the parade.
Gloriose Nukamabano is really glad to be here. The 17-year-old from Rwanda says our celebrations are "really beautiful and interesting".
ST Photo: Melissa Pang
Joanne (ST.com HQ, 7:44pm): The story of Singapore continues with a musical trip through the decades played on the big screen at the Marina Bay Grandstand flanked by two tall set-ups which look like performers in HDB flat windows.
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 7:52pm): I just exchanged a few words with a life-sized furry crocodile or buaya. He has just hopped off stage after his act, which involved "scaring people". In reality, this "crocodile " is an army recruit. He has been a Singapore permanent resident for four years now and it is his first time taking part in the Parade.
ST PHOTO: Melissa Pang
Reico (Marina Bay Grandstand backstage, 7:52pm): The girls from the Acropolates pole fitness team run back in with big smiles on their faces after their performance in the Chapter 5: Fast-forward segment into Singapore's modernisation period, where they performed together with the wu-shu and gymnastic team.
"We were all geared up and all the practice has been worth-it," said Ming Leong, team leader of the Acropolates team. "It was challenging to do the pole stunts, especially hanging inverted on the pole and doing spins. We got a few bruises as there was friction between the skin and poles, but it's worth it!"
ST Photo: Reico Wong
Reico (Marina Bay Grandstand backstage, 7:59pm): As the strains of Koh Chieng Mun singing "I Will Survive" resounds loudly from the stage, performers from the various segments join in and sing along fervently with big grins on their faces... And continue to sing along with pride as the next song "Home" starts up. I bet the performers are really feeling the lyrics of the national day song more than ever before!
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 8:02pm): We just watched the "When I Grow Up" video segment which features kids describing their ambitions. Little Andrew, the last of the lot, received the loudest cheers when he said with a cheeky grin: "When I grow up I want to be President of Singapore!"
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 8:07pm): The grandstand is awash with a sea of red and white hearts. The Singapore Flyer too is glowing red and white. White lights, bringing out the patterns in the Flyer, blink to the music. Against the song "Home", it is a very heartwarming moment. The song ends with red heart-shaped helium balloons released into the sky, fading in the distance.
Reico (Marina Bay Grandstand backstage, 8:16pm): I had a few words with some of the army personnel decked out in silver shiny costumes. They were going back on stage for their final performance as Electrico belted out their national day song. Although the army men were sweating furiously as I asked them how they were feeling right at that moment, they only repeated one word - "Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! To be able to join in the nation's celebrations this way is just wonderful!"
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 8:19pm): Just had a word with Singapore Polytechnic student Ronald Choo. He volunteered to be a motivator at the parade, a job that requires plenty of arm power and dancing ability. He's furiously waving his red heart-shaped torch to Electrico's national day song to get the audience moving.
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 8:21pm): It's everyone's favourite national day song! Stand Up For Singapore. All are up on their feet waving their heart-shaped torches and singing along, even the elderly folks on my right. The audience goes wild as bursts of fireworks light up the sky!
ST PHOTO: Bryan Huang
Reico (Marina Bay Grandstand, 8:24pm): As host Gurmit Singh stands on stage to close the show, everyone prepares to round-off the night's celebrations with one last solemn moment - to take the national pledge and sing the national anthem. Uniform personnel stand at attention and face front in serious salutes.
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 8:27pm): An inspiring moment as members of the audience, performers and government ministers all quieten down for the national pledge and anthem.
ST PHOTO: Bryan Huang
The calm is short-lived though and everyone is back to partying again. The crowd roars for the president as he makes his exit.
Reico (Marina Bay Grandstand, 8:27pm): As the fireworks fill the air, eyes moved upwards to the sky to catch the magnificent color bursts. And as the strains of Majulah Singapura ends, everyone around me start screaming in joyful cheers. Happy 44th Birthday, Singapore!
ST PHOTO: Reico Wong
Melissa (Marina Bay Grandstand, 8:29pm): The parade has come to a close. Performers are still on stage and on the track. Most of them are moving to "We Are Family" in self-choreographed dance moves. They must be glad months of hard work has come to fruition. Spectators are eager to exit the grandstand but the crowd is moving very slowly.
Joanne (ST.com HQ, 8:30pm): And on that note, all of us at ST Online would like to wish all Singaporeans a Happy National Day. Thanks to all of you for joining us here on the ST Blogs from all over the world!